Fiber-reinforced plastic composite materials are increasingly used in many industrial applications, leading to an increase in the amount of waste that must be treated to avoid environmental problems. Currently, the scientific literature classifies existing recycling technologies into three macro-categories: mechanical, thermal, and chemical; however, none are identified as superior to the others. Therefore, scholars and companies struggle to understand where to focus their efforts. Patent analysis, by relying on quantitative data as a precursor to new technological developments, can contribute to fully grasping current applications of each recycling technology and provide insights about their future development perspectives. Based on these premises, this paper performs a patent technology roadmap to enhance knowledge about prior, current, and future use of the main recycling technologies. The results show that recycling macro-categories have different technology maturity levels and growth potentials. Specifically, mechanical recycling is the most mature, with the lowest growth potential, while thermal and chemical recycling are in their growth stage and present remarkable future opportunities. Moreover, the analysis depicts several perspectives for future development on recycling technologies applications within different industries and underline inter- and intra-category dependencies, thus providing valuable information for practitioners and both academic and non-academic backgrounds researchers interested in the topic.

Fibre-reinforced plastic composite materials are increasingly employed in several industries. This extensive use has resulted in a huge increase of generated waste that has to be managed without causing significant environmental issues. Recycling fibre-reinforced plastic composite materials in accordance with circular economy principles might be a way to overcome such problems. Thus, this paper aims to empirically analyse the existing scientific literature regarding recycling technologies for fibre-reinforced plastic composite materials. The main goal is to provide a holistic and comprehensive analysis of the topic, as well as research gaps and future directions following a rigorous and transparent approach. Overall, 201 articles were selected through a systematic approach and then analysed using a bibliometric analysis. Results show that this topic has been increasingly gaining momentum in recent years and that researchers have mostly carried out experimental studies on chemical and thermal recycling technologies for recovering carbon fibres. Lastly, this article provides an in-depth research agenda based on identified research gaps and an enhanced managerial grasp of this field of research.

Purpose: This study aims to empirically explain how companies can leverage relational enablers to implement a circular economy (CE). Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a multiple case study approach, analysing three born circular start-ups and four incumbent companies committed to CE in the context of the Italian textile industry. Findings: This paper found that companies should prioritise environmental and accountability criteria and goal congruence over economic considerations when selecting an appropriate partner. Moreover, knowledge sharing routines are the most important relational enabler for developing CE, primarily implemented through rethink, repurpose, reduce and recycle. The results show the importance of relational enablers in supporting, and even enabling, CE implementation. Practical implications: The study contributes to practice by highlighting which CE practices are most commonly developed together with supply chain partners and which respective relational enablers allow for CE success. Moreover, it emphasises the challenges that can impede establishing a collaborative CE and that can lead to failure. Originality/value: This paper enriches the supply chain management literature by shedding light on the role and desirability of relational enablers in fostering CE. Additionally, the concept of collaborative CE is introduced, highlighting the importance of collaboration in CE. This work offers a novel conceptual framework, the Fabric of the Circular Economy, for understanding how relational enablers can drive the transition to CE, which can be generalised to different sectors.